South Florida

Remember these old restaurants and movie theaters in South Florida?

Stories by Miami Herald journalists, with AI summarization

These photos show old restaurants and theaters in South Florida.

In Miami, Kelly's Theater launched in 1906. It marked the beginning of Miami's movie theater history. Landmark theaters like The Olympia and The Miracle still stand, but operate in different ways.

Beloved Miami restaurants such as Wolfie's and Lums have closed. Local favorites like Arbetter's and Joe's Stone Crab persist but restaurants evolve as owners shift focus or retire.

Let's go through the photo albums together,

In 1952, a car hop at Colonel Jim’s Tasty Thrill drive-in on the 79th Street Causeway in North Bay Village. The sign says “Blink Lights for Service.” By Bill Sanders

NO. 1: DO YOU REMEMBER THESE MIAMI RESTAURANTS? LUMS, WOLFIE’S, EL CID, MORE. TAKE A LOOK

Let’s open the photo album. | Published March 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Miami Herald Archives

A 1950s premiere of “Return of October” at the Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables.

NO. 2: DO YOU REMEMBER THESE OLD MIAMI MOVIE THEATERS? SEE WHAT THEY LOOKED LIKE BACK WHEN

They were like palaces. No multiplexes then. | Published March 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Miami Herald Archives

A showgirl from Place Pigalle By Joe Elbert

NO. 3: INSIDE THE NAKED CITY: TAKE A LOOK AT OLD BURLESQUE THEATERS IN SOUTH FLORIDA

Se where they took it all off through the years. | Published April 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Miami Herald Archives

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.